{"id":185559,"date":"2025-11-26T18:36:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T02:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?p=185559"},"modified":"2025-12-02T19:55:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T03:55:32","slug":"what-does-a-car-strut-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-a-car-strut-look-like\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does a Car Strut Look Like?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"summary-widget\">\n    <h3>Summary<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"summary-grid\">\n            <li class=\"summary-grid-list\">\n            <div class=\"sm-item\">\n\n                                    <p class=\"sm-title\">\n                        A car strut is a long, tube-shaped suspension component that supports your vehicle&rsquo;s weight. Struts typically also have springs wrapped around the rod.                     <\/p>\n                \n            <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n            <li class=\"summary-grid-list\">\n            <div class=\"sm-item\">\n\n                                    <p class=\"sm-title\">\n                        Unlike shock absorbers that just provide dampening, struts are a structural component. They support the vehicle and the spring while keeping the tire in an aligned position.                     <\/p>\n                \n            <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n            <li class=\"summary-grid-list\">\n            <div class=\"sm-item\">\n\n                                    <p class=\"sm-title\">\n                        To access your vehicle&rsquo;s strut, remove the wheels and unscrew the bolts that attach the strut to other suspension components.                     <\/p>\n                \n            <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/shock-absorber-and-strut-assembly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"car strut\">car strut<\/a> is a long, tube-shaped part that looks like a thick metal stick. Most vehicle struts have a spring wrapped around them to provide better support and absorb more shocks.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most car struts combine a shock absorber and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/coil-springs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"coil spring\">coil spring<\/a>. The top of the strut has a flat, round mount that&rsquo;s bolted to the vehicle&rsquo;s body and receives its weight. Meanwhile, the bottom part of the strut connects to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/steering-knuckle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"steering knuckle\">steering knuckle<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/wheel-hub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"wheel hub\">wheel hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"543\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/comparison-between-sla-suspension-and-strut-suspension-1024x543.jpg\" alt=\"comparison between sla suspension and strut suspension\" class=\"wp-image-185560\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Short-long-arm (SLA) suspension vs. strut suspension, highlighting the strut&rsquo;s long tube and surrounding coil spring. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You might think a shock absorber and strut are the same components, but they have key differences that set them apart.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shock absorbers provide spring and suspension movement while dampening the movement into heat. They&rsquo;re composed of a fluid-filled tube and a piston that helps dampen vibrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"925\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/strut-diagram-925x1024.jpg\" alt=\"strut diagram\" class=\"wp-image-185561\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The strut always includes a shock absorber at its core, with the spring compressed and mounted around the shock. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"pro-tip-widget\">\n\n    <div class=\"pro-tip-item\">\n        <figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\", P0442 Code: Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (Small Leak)\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"protip-desc\">\n        <div class=\"help-tip\">\n        <p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"help-caption\">\n            <p>\n                <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n                Standard shock absorbers are different from the spring, which is a separate part that supports the weight of the car. Without shock damping, the vehicle will just keep on bouncing after it goes over a bump.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Warning:<\/strong> Don&rsquo;t try to disassemble a strut without the proper tools and training. The spring is under extreme tension and can cause serious injury or even be fatal if released suddenly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"741\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bare-strut-shock-only-vs-strut-assembly-e1764208529720.jpg\" alt=\"bare strut shock only vs strut assembly\" class=\"wp-image-185562\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Unlike shock absorbers that just provide dampening, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/define-strut-function-importance-cost-and-other-faqs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"struts\">struts<\/a> are a structural component. They support the vehicle and the spring while keeping the tire in an aligned position. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips On Accessing a Car Strut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The car strut is typically found between the vehicle&rsquo;s wheel hub and wheel well. A wheel&rsquo;s strut is readily exposed. You just need to peek into the gap between the wheel and the fender.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can remove the entire strut by disconnecting the assembly from the knuckle and removing the three nuts from the studs that pass through the strut tower, which is typically accessible when you open the hood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Warning:<\/strong> Do not remove the center nut because it will release the spring.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you intend to remove the strut, you must lift your vehicle with a jack and jack stands, remove the corresponding wheel, and unscrew the bolts that keep the strut firmly in place. These bolts might be corroded and seized, given their exposure to the elements. You&rsquo;ll need penetrating fluid to loosen them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&rsquo;ll also need to disconnect other steering and suspension components from the wheel hub, like the sway bars and tie rod ends.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>A car strut is a long, tube-shaped part that looks like a thick metal stick. Most vehicle struts have a&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-a-car-strut-look-like\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1651,"featured_media":185560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,52,3755],"tags":[1292],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":["post-185559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-auto-repair","category-diy","category-suspension","tag-shock-absorber-and-strut-assembly-2","entry"],"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Does a Car Strut Look Like? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Curious about what a car strut looks like and how it fits into your suspension? Get a clear visual explanation and learn what sets it apart from a standard shock absorber. Read the full guide to understand it with confidence.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-a-car-strut-look-like\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Does a Car Strut Look Like? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Curious about what a car strut looks like and how it fits into your suspension? Get a clear visual explanation and learn what sets it apart from a standard shock absorber. Read the full guide to understand it with confidence.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-a-car-strut-look-like\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-27T02:36:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-03T03:55:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/comparison-between-sla-suspension-and-strut-suspension-e1764208256781.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"478\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"CarParts.com Research Team, Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarPartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"CarParts.com Research Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-does-a-car-strut-look-like\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-does-a-car-strut-look-like\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"1651\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. 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Richard has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others (published every year since May 2000). He has developed training courses and written or edited training material for companies in the U.S. Canada, and the Netherlands, and even Bulgaria. He maintained an \u201cask a mechanic\u201d website for 10 years answering questions emailed to him from all over the world.\r\n\r\nRichard has an instructional automotive YouTube channel \u201cMcCuistian\u201d with 13,500 subscribers and over 1,300 videos. Much of his professional work requires photography and videography in shop environments, but Richard also enjoys taking pictures of landscapes, skyscapes, old barns and houses, small towns. He has produced a coffee table book of digital watercolors called \u201cMemories of South Alabama\u201d created from his personal photos, along with a dozen Christian fiction short original novels and a collection of short stories, all available in Kindle or softcover format. 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He has won two International Automotive Media Awards for technical articles published in trade magazines.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has attended hundreds of hours of automotive training from OEMs including GM, Volkswagen, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Chrysler, as well as additional training at events like KC Vision and MACS (Mobile Air Climate Systems Association).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Taught college level auto mechanics for 19 years.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has written for automotive training companies (including course development work for training companies in Canada and the Netherlands) and has been hired to teach professional trade show technician courses at multiple training events in Texas and Alabama.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>While still teaching at the college level, Richard launched a new automotive program in Geneva, Alabama, setting up a dual enrollment department in a new building, organizing the shop and classroom, teaching morning classes to high school students for 2 years while still teaching at the college in the afternoon.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Richard\u2019s college program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College worked at professional shop speed during his tenure to prepare graduates for production level work in the real world.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=185559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/185560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=185559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=185559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=185559"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=185559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}